BEEP! Julian's comm badge sounded and woke him from his light sleep.
"Bashir here. Go ahead," he said sleepily, sitting up.
"Doctor, you're needed in the infirmary immediately."
"On my way," he replied, pulling on his uniform jacket and leaving his room.
The doors slid, and Julian entered the infirmary. A nurse greeted him as he walked over.
"What's going on?" He asked.
"A heavily damaged shuttle came in a few minutes ago, the passengers were injured. We need your assistance."
"Alright, how many passengers?" Julian asked, running his fingers through his hair.
"Two, one needs surgery as soon as possible, and Nurse Willoughby and I don't have the knowledge quite yet we need to carry out the main procedure properly,"
"What are the problems?"
The nurse handed him a PADD, and Julian scrolled down looking at the procedure. When he got the patient information, his eyes got wide.
"Oh God," he whispered after he read the name Elim Garak. "Where is he?"
"Right this way, sir," the nurse led him into pre-surgery. Lying on a biobed, looking unnaturally pale, was a Cardassian he knew very well.
"Nurse, prepare for surgery. We're all going to be here a while," he said, walking over to bed. As the nurse, Julian looked over Garak. His eyelids were fluttering, and his breathing was shallow.
"Elim?" Julian said quietly.
"Doctor, how good of you to drop by," Garak wheezed back.
"Don't joke, Elim," he replied sternly. "Save your breath. There's a rib trying to puncture your lung, and it'll go through if you speak too much. I can see it. Now, shush. We're going to fix it. Don't worry." Julian ran his fingers quickly down Garak's cheek and smiled slightly.
Garak, observing doctor's orders, nodded, and Julian went to put on his uniform for surgery. When he returned, two nurses were standing by to begin the operation.
"Hypo- 20cc's of hydroserimine," Julian said, and with that, Garak descended into the world of darkness.
"He's under, sir," Nurse Willoughby said.
"Alright, let's begin," Julian, said grimly, pulling the hat from his uniform on.
"So what was the damage?" Captain Sisko asked Bashir.
"It was quite severe actually. We got the internal haemorrhaging under control, fixed seven broken ribs and replaced his spleen. What the hell did he do? And who was his second passenger?"
"His name is Zaden, or so he says. Apparently, he is a very important Vorta on Cardassia. He wanted to speak with the Federation about negotiating a cease-fire while they search for a cure to heal the Founders. The Founders refused to allow him passage from Dominion space, and Garak volunteered to kidnap him. Star Fleet told him to go, and he succeeded."
"Ah," said Julian. "Do we know what caused his injuries?"
"Not really. Some panelling from the ceiling fell, and part of the helm exploded."
"Alright, thank you, Captain. I'd better go check on him."
"Good luck, Doctor. Please send your report when you're finished."
"Yes, sir," Julian said, walking back into side wing of the infirmary where Nurse Willoughby was standing.
"He's stable, sir," she said, smiling.
"Thank you, Nurse. You should have been off an hour ago, I'll hold down the fort here."
"All right, good night, doctor" she said, leaving the infirmary, leaving Julian with the still-sedated Garak.
When the doors closed again, Julian turned to Garak and shook his head.
"Elim, must you be so silent?"
"On the contrary, my dear," he whispered back, cracking one eye open. "You told me to be quiet."
"Talk all you want now," Julian beamed.
"What would you like me to say?"
"Anything."
"Well, I am afraid I may be unable to attend our scheduled lunch tomorrow afternoon due to this unfortunate incident."
"Oh, I don't know. You're healing up quite nicely," Julian replied, gazing at the medical chart on the wall. "But we'll see tomorrow, alright?"
"Alright. Julian, I can see from here, you need to sleep. Go ahead, I'll be fine."
"I'm staying right here."
"No, you humans need to rest. I don't want you falling asleep during one of our fascinating philosophical debates tomorrow."
Julian sighed and shook his head.
"Fine, Garak, I just want to wait until alpha shift gets to the infirmary. It should only be another 20 minutes or so."
"As you wish," the Cardassian said, placing his hand on the doctor's.
"I love you, Elim," Julian said quietly. Garak smiled back at the doctor.
"That's a dangerous statement, Julian." He replied, only half-joking. "I love you too." And Julian Bashir was happy for the first time in weeks.
And thus ends my first DS9 fanfiction. Thanks for reading and reviewing. :)
